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CDs and tube amps

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blind bruce

Member
Since CDs are digital and tube amps are analog, why spend extra dollars on a tube amp? If I only play LPs or FM radio, perhaps but what will I gain going from a 200W solid state Sumo Andromeda to a 15W class A tube amp?
 
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As always, the answer to your question totally depends on your speakers. Once you have selected a pair of speakers, you pick an amp that allows them to perform to their maximum. Once you got that right, you can have a discussion about the advantages of a pre-amplifier and pros and cons of different source options.
 
My speakers are very efficient Paradigm K95s with a SW1000 Paradigm 1oooW sub woofer. The listening room is 25X18 feet and carpeted. The dealer of the 15W amp says that it is more than enough power because I have the sub. It will cost me $2500 to find out!
 
If you heard early CD players you wouldn't want digital sound either. It all depends at what point we are on the map on any given day as to which components when combined give you the result you desire or didn't have the foggiest idea could sound so magnificent. Why do you think there are so many folks out there listening to vinyl with all its compromises and detractions. Because the artists and performers came together and made beautiful music in a way that has not been replicated since. So as much as we want to talk technical, it is after all the performance and the way it was captured that is most important. In my case, I wouldn't mind having a Mcintosh C1100T and a pair of 2301's, though I prefer the MC 3500's to drive some S7 Magicos. I am very fond of the MCD 500CD as a player. I would probably want a MEN 220 to get things right in the environment. You can't fault a tube pre amp that has 110 db signal to noise or an amp with 117 db signal to noise. A noisy SS reciever would have just as or more noise than the Mac tube units would have harmonic distortion. At least even harmonics sing in tune. Noise is just every where.

Back in the 60's and early 70's it wasn't the frequency response or the distortion that was the most important parameter for professional analog tape recorders. It was signal to noise ratio was the big compromise we were facing. Today, its which digital format, sampling rate number of bits, etc etc, all needing perfecting, and yet we are still trying to get the analog pieces correct, too. The easiest choice would be to scrap your sound system. Go out and listen to live un amplified concerts. But where to find excellent performers and listening venue. Challenges and compromises. Whether listening live or at home. But don't condemn a tube off hand, they are just one of the many building blocks in reaching sound nirvana.
 
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Well said twiii. That brings up another question, would a more modern CD player sound any better than my 30 year old Harmon Kardon?
 
Spelling and proper grammar are not the issue here!!!!
He has posted a reply that is useful....unlike some......
Question still unanswered is will a more modern CD player be better than my HK model HD7125?
 
I'll tell you why I do it:

I have a tube amp (an old Scott); I listen to CDs and vinyl... sometimes a CD is more convenient, sometimes I don't have a particular album on wax or whatever... but I still only have the one amp in that system (It's solid-state upstairs). So for me it's not a conscious decision to be listening to CDs on a tube amp for the sake of listening to CDs on a tube amp. I listen to CDs on a tube amp because that's the amp I have.
 
Maybe you shouldn't! You will lose 185 watts, more or less. The question is whether you actually use any of them. Maybe you do, maybe you don't.

Expectation bias can work both ways; a skeptic may confirm his worst fears.

IMO, most CD aversion is caused by compressed or otherwise poorly done mastering, and in the worst cases, there is no 'taming' them via equipment; those are doomed to sound flat and harsh. For the CDs that are mastered well, no special treatment, buffering, or EQ is needed by most people.

Your first phrase (Since CDs are digital and tube amps are analog) is not related to any relevant causation here; it merely confuses the matter. The signal is analog by the time it is amplified.
 
Can't find much on your H/K 7125, so not much to compare it to. There was a CD player discussion about a month back that listed what players had what DAC's / drives in them. I can tell you I use a Marantz CD67 and it sounds great with SS or Tube.
 
blind bruce said:
Well said twiii. That brings up another question, would a more modern CD player sound any better than my 30 year old Harmon Kardon?
Click to expand...

The only really "special" ones are the HD7525/7725 of the mid 90's. Other than that, you could certainly get better sound with a more modern player.

jblnut
 
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sqlsavior said:
Maybe you shouldn't! You will lose 185 watts, more or less. The question is whether you actually use any of them. Maybe you do, maybe you don't.

Expectation bias can work both ways; a skeptic may confirm his worst fears.

IMO, most CD aversion is caused by compressed or otherwise poorly done mastering, and in the worst cases, there is no 'taming' them via equipment; those are doomed to sound flat and harsh. For the CDs that are mastered well, no special treatment, buffering, or EQ is needed by most people.

Your first phrase (Since CDs are digital and tube amps are analog) is not related to any relevant causation here; it merely confuses the matter. The signal is analog by the time it is amplified.
Click to expand...
Well put. Just like vinyl, there are good and bad masters.
 
This is not exactly 'asking the wrong question' but it's definitely 'asking one question when the final product is actually dependent upon 100 questions.'

If music was that simple, we wouldn't all be here talking about it. ;)
 
blind bruce said:
Spelling and proper grammar are not the issue here!!!!
He has posted a reply that is useful....unlike some......
Question still unanswered is will a more modern CD player be better than my HK model HD7125?
Click to expand...

Absolutely.......

Do some research then go to the "Guitar Store" and buy one, comes with a thirty day money back guarantee if you don't like it !
 
blind bruce said:
My speakers are very efficient Paradigm K95s with a SW1000 Paradigm 1oooW sub woofer. The listening room is 25X18 feet and carpeted. The dealer of the 15W amp says that it is more than enough power because I have the sub. It will cost me $2500 to find out!
Click to expand...

If you want to find out how good CD's will sound with a tube amp, you can buy a tube amp from people on this site. Then if you don't like it you can flip it on eBay. Then, with half of that money you can buy a great amp.
 
Do yourself a favor and find out which amps the experts use...

There are very knowledgeable experts on this site that rebuild equipment and you might want to know what amps they use. That is if you want a perfect amp and speaker combination because spending money like that just to find something out might not have the intended outcome.
 
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